Spring-testing apparatus.



P. R. ALFORD.

SPRING TESTING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED FEBHT, 1911. 1,007, 171Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. R. ALFORD.

SPRING TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED r2117, 1911.

1,007,171 Patented 001. 31, 1911.

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4 A? j /Z5|7?4/ zz a 1Z "11H 3Z6 "1 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK R. ALFORD, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 WM. L. GILBERTCLOCK COMPANY, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SPRING-TESTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. ALFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Winsted, county of Lit-chfield, State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-TestingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXactdescription.

My invention relates to spring testing appliances the same beingparticularly adapted for testing so-called hair springs for watches andother timepieces, the purpose of the invention being to provide a simpleand effective mechanism whereby such springs may be tested with thegreatest accuracy.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of the entire apparatus.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with part of the frame removed. Fig. 3 is afront elevation with part of the frame removed. Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a detail. .Fig. 5 is a view of a cam. Fig. 6 is a plan viewof the apparatus.

Before proceeding to describe the construction of the device, it wouldbe well to briefly outline how the apparatus is used. The apparatus isconstructed with two oscillating members, to one of which is connected amaster spring so that when said device is started, the master springwill oscillate the same at theproper speed. The duplicate oscillatingmember is so arranged that the spring to be tested may be connectedtherewith in such a manner that when the second oscillating member isstarted at the same speed as the first mentioned oscillating member, theoperator can, by watching the operation of the second member, ascertainwhether the spring driving the second oscillating member, and beingtested, corresponds in strength and operation to the master spring,suitable indicating mechanism being employed whereby any difference inoperation may be readily detected.

In the drawings, 12 represent the front and rear frame plates of theapparatus respectively. These are suitably connected by cross-braces 33.Each of the frame plates 12 is bifurcated at its upper end, each arm ofthe bifurcated fork supporting duplicate spring testing devices. Thebifurcated arms on the plate 1 are indicated at 45 respectively, whilethe bifurcated arms on the plate 2 are indicated at 67. These arms arearranged in sets when the frame is assembled whereby the arm 6 willcooperate with the arm 5, and the arm 4 with the arm 7 8 is what I willterm a master balance wheel mounted upon the arbor 9, which is suitablyjournaled at its ends in adjustable bearing pins 9 9 10 is anoscillating indicating member pivotally mounted at 11. This member ismade of non-magnetic material, preferably aluminum. 7

l212 are two laterally projecting prongs from the oscillating indicatingmember, which I will term indicating pointers, said indicating pointersextending around and free at all times of bearing pin 9*.

13 is a master spring connected at one end to the arbor 9 at the otherend to the oscil lating member 10 at 10. The bearing pin 9' acts as astop between the two arms 12-12 of the oscillating member 10 and limitsthe range of oscillation of the same.

From the foregoing it is apparent that if the arbor 9 is turned was toincrease the tension on the spring, and then released, said spring willunwind and revolve the balance wheel 8 a certain distance or number ofrevolutions in one direction until the spring opposes its furthermovement, whereupon said spring will reverse the rotation of saidbalance wheel and by this means said balance wheel will be rotated inopposite direct-ions until the stored energy in the spring is exhausted.At the end of each rotation of the balance wheel, the indicating member10 and its pointers 12 will oscillate to a limited degree determined bythe stop pin 9 so that each oscillation can be carefully and readilyobserved.

Between the arms 5 and 6 and mounted adjacent thereto are duplicateparts, namely, the balance wheel 15, the arbor 16 mounted in bearings 16and 16*, the oscillating member 17 having the indicating pointers 181 8.

19 is a spring to be tested. This spring is anchored at one end to thearbor 16 and is connected to the oscillating-member 17 at a pointcorresponding to the connection between the spring 13 and theoscillating member 10, but in this instance, a simple and easilyoperated mechanical means is provided for connecting and disconnectingthe spring to be tested in such a manner that its adjustments may bequickly eifected. In this instance the means consists of a bearingshoulder 20 on the indicator 17 with which an eccentrically mountedwedge member 21 operated by an arm 22 on the front of the indicator 17cooperates and by which the end of the spring may be adjustably clampedto the indicator 17 It is obvious that if the spring 19 is so mountedbetween its two points of connection that it exerts thesame force as themaster spring 13, and if the arbor 16 is rotated at the same speed asthe arbor 9,*thetwo os'cillatingmembers 10 and 17 will oscillateabsolutely uniformly and synchronously, and the two sets of pointers 12and 18 will rise and fall in absolute unison. If, however, the spring tobe tested varies from the master spring, the oscillating members willnot so oscillate, and the variation may be quickly detected by observingtherelative movements of indicating pointers 12-18. If a variation insuch movements is detected, the adjustmentof the spring-tobetested maybe readily varied. by varying its connection with the oscillating member17, whereupon the parts may again be operated for the purposes oftesting. The means for driving the balance wheels S15 forthe purpose ofstartin'gthe vibrations comprises a vertical slide 22- having across-head 23. At the opposite ends of the cross-head23' are upwardlyprojecting yieldingarms 24-25. These arms are preferably provided with acovering, preferably of rubber. The extremeupper endsof each of the armsare bent slightly toward each other. The slide 22 is suit-ably mountedin the frame of the machine for movement up and down. Passing throughthe frame is a shaft 26 having a handle 27 at its outer end and having apreferably heart shaped cam.

28 mounted in proximity to the slide 22, and preferably so as to engagean anti-friction roller 29thereon.

30 is a spring for pulling the slide 20 downwardly. \Vhen the slide isin its down position, the upper ends of the arms 21-25 are entirely freeof the arbors 916. VVhen, however, the cam 28 is turned, the slide ismoved upwardly and the arm 24will engage with the arbor 9, while the arm25 will engage with the arbor 16. hen the slide has been raised to itshighest elevation by the cam 28, the operator releases the handle 27,whereupon the spring 30 quickly draws 'down the slide so that on thedownward movement, the arms 24t-25 will rotate the arbors 916 inopposite directions, and at precisely the same speed, thus starting thebalance wheels S15 in motion to secure the testing oscillationshereinbefore referred to. The oscillating members 1017 may be providedwith suitable adjustable counterweight devices 31-31 whereby the samemay each be balanced with the greatest care and accuracy. The arborwhich is to carry the spring which is to be tested may have one of itsbearings, for example, the bearing 16 provided with a handle 32 whichwill enable the operator who is testing the springs to quickly removethe arbor when he desires to substitute another spring and balancewheel.

The double indicating fingers on each of the indicator arms makes itpossible to observe variations in the vibrations of said indicators verymuch more quickly and accurately, as the eye the more quickly catchesvariations in the movements between the four adjacent moving points thanwould be the case ifeach indicator arm were provided with but a singleindicator finger.

In using apparatus of the above description, great care must beexercised to avoid magnetizationeither of the master spring or thespring tobe tested. This object is accomplished in "my improvedapparatus by making the indicator arms which tap upon material, as forexample, aluminum. This has the further advantage also of preventingthese parts 'from sticking when they come in contact. Furthermore, therubber covering of the driving arms or fingers 2125 actsas an insulationwhich further prevents magnetization of the hair spring by the rollingaction of these arms upon the arbors 916. The rubber coveringalsoaffords a better friction hold for the driving arms upon the arbors.

lVhile I have herein described a particular embodiment of my invention,the same maybe altered in details and relative arrangementof partswithin thescope-ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine fortesti'ng and truing hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for the arbors of a testing spring and a-similar spring to betested, means for imparting motion to said arbors and simultaneouslyvibrating said springs,and vibratory indicators adapted to be attachedto the free ends of the springs and to move in unison therewith, each ofsaid indicators having a plurality of indicator fingers moving in pathsadjacent the corresponding indicator fingers of the other.

2. A machine for testing and truin'g hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for a testing spring and a similar springto be tested and theirrespective arbors, reciprocatory fingers for simultaneously impartingmovement to said arbors and vibrating springs, and means influenced bythe springs for indicating their respective vibrations, said meansincluding a set of indicating fingers for each*spring'arrangedtooscillate in adjacent paths. 7

3. A machine for testing and truing hair the stop pins 9 and 16 ofnonqnagnetic or balance springs comprising supports for the arbors of atesting spring and a similar spring to be tested, means for impartingmotion to said arbors and simultaneously vibrating said springs,vibratory indicators adapted to be attached to the free ends of eachspring to move in unison therewith and indicate their respectivevibrations, and stops to limit the movement of said indicators, saidindicators being formed of nonmagnetic material to prevent magnetizationof said springs.

4:. A machine for testing and truing hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for a testing spring and a similar spring to be tested andtheir respective arbors, reciprocatory fingers for simultaneouslyimparting movement to said arbors and vibrating the springs, saidfingers being faced with insulating and friction material to preventmagnetization of the springs and to afiord a better grip upon thearbors, and means in fluenced by the springs for indicating theirrespective vibrations.

5. A machine for testing and truing hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for a testing spring and a similar spring to be tested andtheir respective arbors, means for imparting motion to said arbors andsimultaneously vibrating said springs, and vibratory indicators adaptedto be attached to the free ends of the springs to move in unisontherewith and indicate their respective vibrations, the attaching meansfor the spring to be tested comprising a bearing shoulder on itsindicator and a rotary cam member cooperating with said shoulder wherebysaid spring .may be readily connected with and disconnected from saidindicator.

6. A machine for testing and truing hair or balance springs comprising asupport for a testing spring and a similar spring to be tested and theirrespective arbors, reciprocatory fingers for simultaneously impartingmovement to said arbors and vibrating the springs, a cam for actuatingsaid fingers and shaped to permit uniformly accelerated movement of saidfingers, and means for operating said cam.

7. A machine for testing and truing hair or balance springs comprising asupport for a testing spring and a similar spring to be tested and theirrespective arbors, reciprocatory fingers for simultaneously impartingmovement to said arbors and vibrating the springs, a heart-shaped cam toactuate said fingers and arranged to permit a uniformly acceleratedmovement thereof, and means to operate said cam.

8. A machine for testing or truing hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for a testing spring and a similar spring to be tested andtheir respective arbors, means for imparting motion to said arbors andsimultaneously vibrating said springs, and vibratory indicators adaptedto be attached to the free ends of the springs to move in unisontherewith and indicate their respective vibrations, said indicatorshaving adjustable balance weights carried thereby.

9. A machine for testing and truing hair or balance springs comprisingsupports for the arbors of a testing spring and a similar spring to betested, means for imparting motion to said arbors and simultaneouslyvibrating said springs, and vibratory indicators adapted to be attachedto the free ends of the springs to move in unison therewith and indicatetheir respective vibrations, each of said indicators comprising aplurality of indicating arms at their adjacent ends, said arms beingarranged in pairs whereby a plurality of relatively moving points willbe presented to the eye of the observer.

10. A machine for testing and truinghair or balance springs comprisingsupports for the arbors of a testing spring and a similar spring to betested, means for imparting motion to said arbors and simultaneouslyvibrating said springs, and vibratory indicators adapted to be attachedto the free ends of the springs to move in unison therewith and indicatetheir respective vibrations, said indicators each comprising a pluralityof indicator arms arranged adjacent corresponding arms of the otherindicator, said indicators being provided opposite their indicating armswith adjustable counterbalanced weights.

FRANK R. ALFORD.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL A. WETMORE, SAMUEL E. STARKs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

